Test tube support



Nov. 13, 1934.

J. A. REYNIERS TEST TUBE SUPPORT Filed March 11, 1932IIIIIIIIIII/I/I/I/III/IJ Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT.OFFICE v 1 Claim.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a compact, durabletest tube support of greater utility than the usual form of wooden rack.

Further and other objects and advantages will become apparent as thedisclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of apreferred form Iof the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing in dotted lines a pair ofdifferent sized test tubes supported in the rack;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of the rack.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and will bedescribed, but it will be understood that the specific illustration anddescription of the preferred embodiment is for jthe purpose ofdisclosure only and should not be considered as imparting anylimitations on the appended claim except as may be required by the priorart.

Wooden test tube racks, which are familiar to all who have hadexperience in chemical laboratories, comprise in their usual form awooden base having upstanding pedestals adjacent the two ends whichsupport a flat strip of wood having a plurality of tube receivingapertures. The base is usually provided with recesses directly beneaththe several apertures to engage the bottoms of the tubes to give themlateral support. Nevertheless, tubes frequently become dislodged fromthe base recesses and fall from the rack.

Alongside and parallel to the tube holder, there is usually provided aplurality of drying pins which rise from the base and are adapted tosupport the tubes in inverted position.

In addition to the objection that test tubes frequently fall from thetest tube holders above described, the wooden supports are alsoobjectionable because of their comparative frailty and their inabilityto withstand exposure to steam or water.

Some metallic racks have been made duplicating the wooden racks in everyrespect but the material of which they are constructed. Consequently,the metal racks of this type offer little advantage over the woodenrack.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved test tube holderwhich will hold twice as many tubes as supports of usual design; whichreceives tubes of varying sizes with equal adaptalbility, holding themsecurely without rattling;

which permits the entire length of the tube to be visible at all times;which disposes with the necessity of drying pins; which has a low centerof gravity thereby reducing ,the tendency to overturn; which may beexposed to steam or water without injury; and which, because of itsstrong, durable construction, has a useful life greatly in excess of theusual rack.

Referring now to the drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated, the rack comprises a base 10, havingupstanding end members 11 and 12. Preferably, the end members areintegral with the base, being formed by upturning the ends of a flatstrip of bronze or other suitable material. The tops of the end members11 and 12 are joined by a rectangular bar 13, also of bronze, theconnections with the end members being by mortise and tenon joints madesecure by brazing or other suitable means. The bar is positionedcentrally over the base with the flat Webs 14 and 15 lying in verticalplanes.

A plurality of resilient clips 16 are clamped in pairs on opposite sidesof the bar 13. The clips may be of copper, or other suitable materialand are formed with flat back portions 17 through which screws 18 passfor clamping the clips to the bar. A nut 19 cooperates with the screw tohold the clips in place.

The arms of the clips are bowed at 20 and again at 21 to provide a firmgrip on the tubes which they support. The ends of the arms are bentoutwardly as at 22 to facilitate the insertion of the test tubes.

A rod 23 joining the lower portions of the end members 11 and 12 servesnot only as a brace for the rack, but also prevents contact betweentubes on opposite sides of the bar 13.

The clips 16 being resilient, receive different sized tubes with equalfacility. This is demonstrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Not only are tubes of different sizes acccommodated by the rack, butalso the tubes may be held at any desired height (Fig. 2) or may beinverted for the purpose of drying. This arrangement, therefore,disposes with the necessity for drying pins.

The test tube rack being entirely made of metal is adapted to withstandautoclaving and use in water baths, and therefore recommends itself foruse in bacteriological and biological laboratories, as well as chemicallaboratories.

It will be understood that many of the advantages of this invention maybe derived by the use of resilient clips, whether the remainder of thesupport be of metal or wood, and although In the form of the deviceillustrated and described, the tendency of the rack to overturn has beenreduced by the wide base and low center I of gravity.

The rack is strong and sturdy, yet is exceed-t1 ingly simple inconstruction. The, clamping by a single screw and nut is an example ofthe simplicity which gives unusual merit to the de- V108.

What I claim, therefore, is:

A test tube rack made entirely of metal, said rack comprising a flatmetallic base having upstanding ends, a flat bar having its web arrangedvertically and attached at its ends to said first named ends, and. aplurality of resilient clips arrangedon at least one side of the web ofthe bar and adapted to support test tubes of varying sizes at differentleevls in either upright or inverted position.

J. ARTHUR REYNIERS.

of a pair of oppositely disposed clips to the bar

